Farmer Suicide Panic In Maha

The suicide of 22 farmers in the last three weeks over failed crops has jolted the Maharashtra government which has appealed to them “Not to take emotional steps”and wait for relief measures. Crops have been destroyed by prolonged and unusual hailstorm and rains that destroyed crops of horsegram, wheat and jowar spread over 16 lakh hectares. Even fruit crops such as pomegranates, grapes and mangos have been destroyed and will lead to higher prices in the state’s markets. The state government has asked the centre for Rs 5,000 crore and also sought the advice of the Election Commission on dispensing a relief package at a time when the model code of conduct is in force. The state has led the numbers in farmer suicides with it accounting for one fifth of all reported farmer suicides in 2011. On an average it has witnessed more than 3,000 farmer deaths every year for the last decade. These figures however might just be partial and are contested by those provided by the National Crimes Record Bureau.